judah – Page 2 – Praying Pint

39.e. “How can we clear ourselves?”

Genesis 44:14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

And Judah said, what shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak?…. Signifying that they were nonplussed, confounded, knew not what to say; they could not acknowledge guilt, for they were not conscious of any, and yet could not deny the fact, the cup being found on one of them; and though they might have a suspicion of fraud, yet were afraid to speak out what they suspected, and therefore were at the utmost loss to express themselves: or how shall we clear ourselves? to assert their innocence signified nothing, here was full proof against them, at least against their brother Benjamin: God hath found the iniquity of thy servants; brought it to their remembrance, fastened the guilt of it on their consciences, and in his providence was bringing them to just punishment for it; meaning not the iniquity of taking away the cup, which they were not conscious of, but some other iniquity of theirs they had heretofore been guilty of, and now God was contending with them for it; particularly the iniquity of selling Joseph; this was brought to their minds before, when in distress, and now again, behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found; hereby fulfilling his dream more manifestly than ever; for, by bowing down to the earth to him, they might be thought to do no other than what all did, that came to buy corn of him; but here they own themselves to be his servants, and him to be lord over them, and to have dominion over them all, and them to be his slaves and bondmen. (Gill)

These brothers have lived with the guilt of their sin for 22 years. This guilt has not left them and as they matured the sin they committed against Joseph haunts them. They know they deserve to be punished not only for what they did to Joseph but the heart ache and distress they caused their father Jacob. Judah, the instigator of the harsh treatment to Joseph has surely repented but has no means to forgive himself for the intended harm to Joseph. Likewise the brothers were of the same mind.

Guzik says it so perfectly: We might take pride because we are innocent of some sin or another, yet we are guilty of far greater. You can’t hide from your sin. Time does not erase the guilt of your sin; only the blood of Jesus can.

39.d. “And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

Genesis 43:1 Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’” Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?” They replied, “The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones. I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.” Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds. Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight. Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man. May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

Resigned submission to the will of God. How many days, weeks, months, etc… do we fight this submission and strive to overcome our circumstances within our own power, wisdom, and understanding? We come up with every clever plan, every reasoned plan of action, and try over and over again to overcome whatever it is that God is leading us toward.

When our walk by faith with God is neglected and we become complacent with the Word of God, our eyes become blind to His power, might, and wisdom. Our minds become dull to the Holy Spirit’s leading and we are left with our own thoughts to face life’s circumstances alone.

Do not be confused, busyness with this life and the care for what this world has to offer is no excuse and will leave your soul bankrupt. All of our thoughts, actions, and words are weighed and judged by God. We can come up with as many excuses as there are stars in the sky but until there is humble submission within our hearts and repentance, faith, trust, and reliance in Jesus Christ there will be no rest for our souls. Circumstances will come upon us and our storehouse of faith, reliance, and trust in God being bankrupt due to neglect and complacency, are empty and give no comfort, no peace, no hope.

Grow in His Word day by day. Feed on it. Hunger for it. Drink full of it. Most of all commit to the single purpose of honoring and glorifying, Jesus Christ in all that you think, say, and do every minute of your life this side of eternity.

38.p. “Wicked in the sight of the LORD”

Genesis 38:1 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him. And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also. Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house.

Judah marries a Canaanitish woman, who bears him three sons. He marries his eldest son to Tamar. He being wicked is slain by God. The second son is commanded to marry her. His wickedness, and death. He promises her his third son, but performs not. She by a subtle practice commits incest with him. He gives her a pledge. She is found with child; Judah commands her to be burnt. She brings to her father the pledge. He acknowledges it; acquits her, and condemns himself. She brings forth two sons. (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)

Judah, the fourth-born son of Jacob through Leah (Reuben, Simeon, and Levi were before him), had not yet distinguished himself as someone great among his brothers. He was the one who suggested they sell Joseph into slavery. Through an ungodly and unwise marriage to a Canaanite woman, Judah fathered three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. It is not surprising that Judah chose a Canaanite wife for his son Er, since he himself was married to a Canaanite. We are never told what Er’s wickedness was, but obviously it was evil enough that God brought immediate judgment upon him. Growing up with a father from such a troubled family and with a mother who was a Canaanite did not help Er to live a godly life. (Guzik)

It is hard to imagine that the ancestral line of Jesus came through Judah. God’s plans and purposes are mysterious at best when we try to account for the reasons why. It is good for us to know He is God, He is Holy, and what He does is Holy and Just. This chapter reveals to us that a life lived apart from honor and glory to God, and trust and reliance on God will not have blessings, but rather have heartache, trials, and troubles without hope, peace, or joy for the soul. Judah chose to live his life apart from God and how it turns out for him and his children is recorded. We are given examples like this in scripture to warn us of worldly attachments and want of what it has to offer more than our want to honor and glorify God. It is not hard to discern or recognize lives that are apart from the want to honor and glorify God for the things people do and the things they say are contrary to God’s Word. This world will offer what it can not give – hope, peace, joy, love, kindness, gentleness, purpose, and soul-deep satisfaction. These will never be found apart from Jesus Christ. We may think we have found a lasting peace in what this world has to offer – money, prosperity, recognition, power, position…. but our souls will never find that lasting hope and peace in these temporal worldly offers.

Scripture is clear repent (turn away) from this life of worldliness and humble yourself before the throne of grace and mercy seeking forgiveness, believing in and trusting in, and relying on Jesus Christ alone. True peace comes to the soul that has purposed to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all they think, say, and do.

38.g. “Because of the greatness of your arm”

Genesis 35:5 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

Exodus 15:15-16   Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.  Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased.

Exodus 23:27   I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.

Psalms 14:5    There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 11:25   No one shall be able to stand against you. The LORD your God will lay the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land that you shall tread, as he promised you.

2 Chronicles 17:10    And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah

Joshua 2:9    and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.

For most of our lives, we will be unaware of the protecting angels or of God’s protection. It is there even though we do not see it or know of it. There are those times we are keenly aware of it because there is no other reason for the outcome. I still wonder how many we miss – (thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions hundreds of millions?)

Our God is all-powerful. He has no limits in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. He is ever-present and all-knowing. He has steadfast love for His children. He has plans and purposes far beyond our understanding. These plans and purposes are for our good and not to harm us. There is peace, joy, comfort, and rest for the soul that clings to and humbly relies on and trusts in God through Jesus Christ.

37.t. “The Sons of Jacob” “The birth of the 12 Tribes of Israel”

Genesis 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

30:1 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali. When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad. Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher.

In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” Rachel said, “Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.

And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun. Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.

Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!”

Wow, two wives and two servants gave birth to 10 sons of Jacob. This seems that it would be a bit complicated to manage for anyone. I do note that just as Sarah and Rebekah were barren for a time and gave birth through and by the promise of God, Rachel likewise was barren for a time until God gave her children.

These are the 11 sons (one more to come) of Jacob; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naptali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Joseph.

Leah’s First Sons. – Jacob’s sinful weakness showed itself even after his marriage, in the fact that he loved Rachel more than Leah; and the chastisement of God, in the fact that the hated wife was blessed with children, whilst Rachel for a long time remained unfruitful. By this it was made apparent once more, that the origin of Israel was to be a work not of nature, but of grace. Leah had four sons in rapid succession, and gave them names which indicated her state of mind: (1) Reuben, “see, a son!” because she regarded his birth as a pledge that Jehovah had graciously looked upon her misery, for now her husband would love her; (2) Simeon, i.e., “hearing,” for Jehovah had heard, i.e., observed that she was hated; (3) Levi, i.e., attachment, for she hoped that this time, at least, after she had born three sons, her husband would become attached to her, i.e., show her some affection; (4) Judah (יהוּדה, verbal, of the fut. hoph. of ידה), i.e., praise, not merely the praised one, but the one for whom Jehovah is praised. After this fourth birth there was a pause (Genesis 29:31), that she might not be unduly lifted up by her good fortune, or attribute to the fruitfulness of her own womb what the faithfulness of Jehovah, the covenant God had bestowed upon her. (Keil and Delitzsch)

Rachel envied her sister: envy is grieving at the good of another, than which no sin is more hateful to God, or more hurtful to our neighbours and ourselves. She considered not that God made the difference, and that in other things she had the advantage. Let us carefully watch against all the risings and workings of this passion in our minds. Let not our eye be evil towards any of our fellow-servants, because our Master’s is good. Jacob loved Rachel, and therefore reproved her for what she said amiss. Faithful reproofs show true affection. God may be to us instead of any creature; but it is sin and folly to place any creature in God’s stead, and to place that confidence in any creature, which should be placed in God only. At the persuasion of Rachel, Jacob took Bilhah her handmaid to wife, that, according to the usage of those times, her children might be owned as her mistress’s children. Had not Rachel’s heart been influenced by evil passions, she would have thought her sister’s children nearer to her, and more entitled to her care than Bilhah’s. But children whom she had a right to rule, were more desirable to her than children she had more reason to love. As an early instance of her power over these children, she takes pleasure in giving them names that carry in them marks of rivalry with her sister. See what roots of bitterness envy and strife are, and what mischief they make among relations. At the persuasion of Leah, Jacob took Zilpah her handmaid to wife also. See the power of jealousy and rivalship, and admire the wisdom of the Divine appointment, which joins together one man and one woman only; for God hath called us to peace and purity. (Henry)

35.s. “At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD”

Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 26:17-18    You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.  And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments,

Isaiah 48:1    Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.

Isaiah 63:19     We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name.

Joel 2:32     And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

I am intrigued by “At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.” 235 years from the birth of Cain to Enosh, (the son of Seth), where it is now written that people began to call on the name of the Lord. Now there is a distinction between those of Cain who defy and reject God and those who call out to God. Just as the heart of Cain rejected God, at the time of Enosh the heart of people began to call out to Him. This calling upon the name of God is and was by faith. Just as Cain rejected the idea of honoring God, the beginning of faith and honoring God began. This calling out obviously came as worship, praise, prayerful pleas, petitions, and requests.

A lot can happen in 235 years. What transpired that caused or influenced the people at the time of Enosh to call out to God? Were there things happening that gave them concern? Did they observe things that just didn’t seem right? We are not told of any laws or governing rules but certainly, there were guidelines and moral compass given to the conscience of man by God. In some of these guidelines and moral compasses that speak to the soul of man, they are either heard and acted upon or rejected and replaced by self-prescribed guidelines and morals. Nothing has really changed has it? People continue to do this throughout history.

The free will of man to choose will result in humble acceptance, obedience, reliance, and faith in God, or rejection, denial, and self-serving, worth, reliance, and disobedience to God and things of God. The battle of all mankind happens within a 7” space between our ears. It is here where eternal life or eternal hell are chosen. The battle between God-rejecting and God-honoring takes place right in this 7” space between the ears of every person. Let no man think they have an excuse for rejecting God, for God has placed within the soul of each person the basic knowledge of Himself and that He can be known, in part, by what He created. Man has been given a moral compass and the Word of God that points in the direction of God, things of God, and will always honor God. In our free will to choose, we have tried to subvert this moral compass and reject His Word. Abortion is defended by a woman’s right to choose. Pornography is defended by calling it adult entertainment. LGBTQ is defended by alternative lifestyles. Greed and pride are defended by self-indulging worthiness. God-given talents to people are taken as a person’s own achievements. Man intentionally chooses to reject God and things of God and replace them with man-ordained approval.

I do not know what it was like in the time of Enosh but if they sought out God and called out to Him in their time, certainly now, more than ever, is the time for us to call out to God for revival or return of Jesus Christ.

34.c. “What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?”

Matthew 24:1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Ezekiel 8:6   And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.”

Jeremiah 6:8    Be warned, O Jerusalem, lest I turn from you in disgust, lest I make you a desolation, an uninhabited land.”

1 Kings 9:7-8    then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples.  And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’

Jeremiah 26:18    “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “‘Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,

Ezekiel 7:22     I will turn my face from them, and they shall profane my treasured place. Robbers shall enter and profane it.

2 Peter 3:11     Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

Josephus says that “Cesar gave orders that they should now demolish the whole city and temple, except the three towers Phaselus, Hippicus, and Mariamne, and a part of the western wall; but all the rest was laid so completely even with the ground, by those who dug it up from the foundation, that there was nothing left to make those who came thither believe that it had ever been inhabited.”

It is said that for eight whole years together he kept 10,000 men a-work about it; and that for magnificence and stateliness, it exceeded Solomon’s temple.” The Jewish historian Josephus said that the temple was covered with gold plates, and when the sun shone on them it was blinding to look at. Where there was no gold, there were blocks of marble of such a pure white that from a distance strangers thought there was snow on the temple.

Christ foretells the utter ruin and destruction coming upon the temple. A believing foresight of the defacing of all worldly glory, will help to keep us from admiring it, and overvaluing it. The most beautiful body soon will be food for worms, and the most magnificent building a ruinous heap. See ye not all these things? It will do us good so to see them as to see through them, and see to the end of them. Our Lord having gone with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, he set before them the order of the times concerning the Jews, till the destruction of Jerusalem; and as to men in general till the end of the world. (Henry)

Man will try hard to build beautiful righteous structures of themselves. They adorn the outside with nothing but the observed best so that when seen or heard of, the observer of such will be impressed by the appearance given. What is inside of such a structure? How secure is it? The temple was built with large base stones so large it is hard for use even today to know how they were laid, let alone how they could be destroyed. How could such a fortress of strength and beauty come to ruin as if it had never been there? Men will build observable righteousness but their inner being lacks the very thing (righteousness) they are trying to get others to see and admire. One stone after another they apply self-reliance on what they are building. They can build this observable structure with generosity, good works, and acts of kindness, but on the inside, this is lacking grace, mercy, and love for both God and others. It is solely being built to acquire self-worth before man and God. Though a person, as such, may have the observed appearance of righteousness by saying and doing things observed, it is within the heart and mind where God sees the thoughts and intents of each living soul.

Let our righteous structure be built on nothing less and nothing more than the blood of Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sin. Let whatever is observed of our lives by others be for the glory and honor of Him alone.

31.d. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Micah 5:2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.

Matthes 2:6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

John 7:42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

God made elaborate preparations for the coming of Christ. For hundreds of years before Christ’s birth, the Old Testament prophets had prophesied the coming of the Messiah. They made dozens and dozens of prophecies about Jesus’s life, His ministry, His death, and His resurrection, but many of their prophecies had to do with His birth. Seven hundred years before the event, God pinpointed the place on the map where the Messiah was going to be born. Micah 5:2 says, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” You cannot really appreciate this prophecy until you realize what a nothing town Bethlehem was. There was nothing spectacular about it at all. But God said that was where the Messiah would be born.

Fast-forward seven hundred years after that prophecy to the days of Mary and Joseph. Here was the problem: God had prophesied that the Messiah was going to be born in Bethlehem, but Mary and Joseph were eighty miles to the north in Nazareth. So how did God get this poor couple from Nazareth down to Bethlehem where they needed to be?

This is nothing short of amazing. Look at Luke 2:1: “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.” Half a continent away, at the center of power in the world, the Roman emperor was having a meeting with all of his counselors. The government was facing a crisis. Because of a lack of funds, they were facing a government shutdown, so the emperor and his counselors decided to raise taxes. In those days there were no computers to track people down and keep records of their income. So the government leaders had this idea to register everybody in the Roman Empire according to the city of their birth, which meant everyone had to pack a suitcase and travel to their hometown. Luke 2:3-4 says, “And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David.”

Little did Cesar Augustus know that his command to be taxed would cause a couple named Mary and Joseph to travel to a village in Judea in order to give birth to the Savior of the world. Isn’t it beyond our comprehension how God works? God’s gift of Jesus Christ was preceded by elaborate preparation.

29.s. “Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man”

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

2 Chronicles 31:21    And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

Psalms 119:10   With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

Psalms 119:34   Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

Jeremiah 3:10    Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the LORD.”

Ephesians 6:6-7    not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,  rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

We are always tempted to work just as hard as we have to, thinking we only have to please man. But God wants every worker to see that ultimately, they work for Him. Therefore, they should do it with their whole heart as if they are working for Jesus Christ. God promises to reward those who work with that kind of heart. For ancient Christian slaves and for modern Christian workers, there is no guarantee on earth of fairness of treatment from those whom they work for. Sometimes partiality means that bad workers are unfairly rewarded and good employees are penalized or left unrewarded. Paul assures both our ancient brethren and us that there is a final rewarding and punishment, and with this there is no partiality. (Guzik)

We have all had bosses, supervisors, and colleagues who left us feeling unappreciated, worthless, and not treated fairly. It seems as if going to work is a burden and there is no scenario in our head that can bring back the joy we once had. We can get upset and mad and defeated. We are not slaves and can quit and move on to another job, essentially at will if we find ourselves in this type of situation. We don’t have to keep our eyes on Jesus and be an example, we can just quit. It is hard to keep the thought of “working as if to Jesus Christ” and at the same time being treated unfairly. Scripture is telling us to keep our eyes on Jesus and work as if to Him. I can’t tell you how many times in my life/career where I lost sight of Jesus and only saw the unfairness of how I was being treated. Just getting up in the morning and going to work was painful. I had fallen into a pity party and, looking back, can see how I was not honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in these thoughts. Pride and self-worth were telling me I deserve better and ought to be respected more highly. I did not act appropriately. I did not give any thought to my testimony to others through my actions. I did not give thought to being kind, patient, and at peace no matter what circumstance I was in. It was as if I was saying I’ll treat you right if you treat me right. Where in scripture does it say this? It does not. It does tell us to be long-suffering.

Jesus is our example. The Son of God bore the pain of whipping, beatings, and crucifixion. He could have called down thousands of angels and been spared the torture and humiliation but chose to do the will of God. In such, He gave His life so that we might have life, eternal life. He is our example to follow. Oh, that we would keep our eyes on Him every moment of every day and no matter what comes, no matter how e are treated, we work as if we are working for Him and His honor and glory.

20.i. “We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”

Romans 10:3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Leviticus 26:41   so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity,

Daniel 9:6-9     We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.  To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.  To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.  To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him

Revelation 3:17-18  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Isaiah 64:6   We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Has mankind changed over time? Have they gotten smarter, wiser, more ingenious? Have they been able to do greater and greater advances in science, industrial, technology, physics, chemistry, medicine, social and cultural understanding? And yet, a man finds, at the end of all of their efforts, they are not closer to God or closer to understanding and knowing Him. For all of the advances, man has made they seem to think it was because of their great self-knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Do they ever wonder who it was that gave them this understanding, wisdom, and knowledge? Was it not from God? I think some, over the history of mankind, have sought God for His help to accomplish an advance in science, industrial, technology, physics, chemistry, medicine, social and cultural understanding, and they were blessed by God to accomplish it and they gave God the honor and glory for the accomplishment. I fear far too many others sought it out for their own glory and honor. Because they did not seek God’s help for God’s honor and glory, they end up thinking that they are capable of accomplishing major advances on their own, without God. Credit is given over and over again to men and what they have accomplished – The Nobel Peace Prize. Over time a man thinks God is not real and not needed. Some may even use what they have accomplished to prove God does not exist.

There are others who see and hear about the accomplishments of various people and over history apply the same approach to being right with God. “Being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” We need to be very careful of what social and cultural influences we use to view God and His plans and purposes for salvation, redemption, forgiveness, heaven, hell, and eternity.